If you’re in the market for a new vehicle these days, you may find the prices staggering. And that means the market for pre-owned is growing.
Requirement: You want something that’s fast, compact and easy to park, so the obvious choice is a small hot hatch. These B-Segment blasters are typically fitted with small turbocharged engines for added oomph. Here are five second-hand examples we found while surfing Gumtree, each for under R250 000.
While making use of a 134 kW 1,6-litre EcoBoost engine, the Fiesta ST is often regarded as the go-to hot hatch in this segment. With a claimed 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 6,9 seconds, some might even opt for this over its big brother, the Focus ST.
With 147 kW on tap from the turbocharged 1,6-litre engine, the Clio RS 200 Cup is not a hatch that should be taken lightly. The dual-clutch transmission, however, is somewhat of an acquired taste.
Although it’s not the most-loved performance vehicle in the Volkswagen range, the earlier Polo GTI’s twin-charged 1,4-litre engine produces a reasonable 132 kW, giving it a 0-100 km/h time of less than 7,0 seconds. This engine, though, has since been replaced by a 140 kW turbocharged 1,8-litre mill.
Despite being the oldest car on this list, the Corsa OPC has the ability to challenge a number of fully fledged hot hatches, thanks to its 141 kW 1,6-litre turbocharged heart. If you can lay your hands on the Nürburgring Edition model, then you’ll have an even more formidable 154 kW on tap.
Like the Clio RS, but with a manual transmission, the 208 GTi makes use of a turbocharged 1,6-litre engine, producing 147 kW. Thanks to a serious rate of depreciation, the 208 GTi also goes for a much more competitive second-hand price than anything else on this list.
